Seat belt buckle

Abstract

A seat belt buckle of the general type disclosed in GB-A-2238074 in which the slider ( 44 ) has extending downwardly from its body ( 46 ) clips ( 76 ) having side flanges ( 78 ), the flanges being formed with chamfers ( 80 ). The body ( 74 ) of the locking member ( 24 ) is provided with elongate slots ( 72 ), into which the clips ( 76 ) can be pressed, the flanges ( 78 ) retaining the slider in place. The length of the slots ( 72 ) and of the clips ( 78 ) is chosen to allow adequate sliding movement of the slider ( 44 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A seat belt buckle adapted to releasably engage a latch plate having an aperture therein, said buckle comprising a rigid frame including a base having an opening therein, upstanding side walls adapted to guide the latch plate longitudinally of the frame, a bar extending transversely of the frame between said side walls, said bar being spaced above the base, a locking member pivotally mounted on the frame and pivotal between a lower latched position and an upper unlatched position, said locking member carrying a downwardly projecting locking element engageable in said aperture in the latch plate to retain the latch plate in place and passing into said opening, a slider slidable longitudinally of the locking member between a first position in which it is located under said bar, to retain the locking member in the lower latched position and a second position in which it is resiliently engaged against a rearward edge of the bar to retain the locking member in its upper unlatched position, a push button to push the slider from its first position to its second position and a slider spring to urge the slider towards its first position, the locking member body being provided with at least two elongate slots and the slider being provided with cooperating clips which can pass through the slots and retain the slider in place, the length of the slots being adequate to allow for the necessary sliding movement of the slider. 
     
     
       2. A buckle according to claim  1 , wherein the clips are integrally formed with the slider. 
     
     
       3. A buckle according to claim  2 , wherein the slider is formed as a plastics material moulding. 
     
     
       4. A buckle according to claim  1 , wherein the clips are each provided with flanges adapted to engage under the locking member body to retain the slider in place. 
     
     
       5. A buckle according to claim  4 , wherein the clips include ends that are chamfered to enable the clips to be pressed downwardly relative to the locking member body whereby the clips resiliently flex and then spring back to enable the flanges to engage under the locking member body. 
     
     
       6. A buckle according to claim  1 , wherein a pair of wings extends laterally from said locking member and engages in said walls to pivotally and resiliently mount the locking member for movement between its upper and lower positions and at least one stop member extends laterally along said member, said at least one stop member engaging abutment on said rigid frame to prevent flexing of said wings beyond their elastic limit. 
     
     
       7. A buckle according to claim  6 , wherein said at least one stop member extends laterally from said locking member forwardly of said wings. 
     
     
       8. A buckle according to claim  7 , wherein said at least one stop member comprises a pair of arms engaging, at least in the lower latched position of the locking member, against abutments in said side walls. 
     
     
       9. A buckle according to claim  8 , wherein an upper edge of at least one of said side walls comprises an abutment formed by a notch. 
     
     
       10. A buckle according to claim  1 , wherein the locking element, in the lower latched position of the locking member, has its forward edge spaced from a rearward edge of said opening under normal conditions. 
     
     
       11. A buckle according to claim  10 , wherein said at least one stop member and an associated abutment is adapted to enhance a load bearing capacity of the locking element engaging the rearward edge of said opening. 
     
     
       12. A buckle according to claim  1 , wherein the rearward edge of said bar and the forward edge of said slider are cooperatingly chamfered to retain the locking member in its upper unlatched position when said forward edge and said rearward edge are inter-engaged by said slider spring.